Two-speed winch

Abstract

A two-speed winch, particularly for nautical applications, comprises a stationary base, a hollow rotary drum supported on the base and a direction-reversible rotary shaft on the base and extending into the drum. The rotary drum may be driven by a first gear train at a first ratio, or by a second gear train at a different second ratio, in dependence upon the direction of rotation of the shaft.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims: 
     
       1. A two-speed winch, particularly for nautical applications, comprising a base; a hollow rotary drum located on said base; a direction-reversible rotary shaft on said base and extending into said drum; a self-tailing pulley mounted on said drum for rotation therewith and operative for facilitating the winding action of the winch; a covering plate located adjacent to said self-tailing pulley; two coaxial sleeve members surrounding said rotary shaft and located axially adjacent to one another, one of said sleeve members having an end portion rigidly mounting said covering plate of said self-tailing pulley; first motion-transmitting means for transmitting rotary motion to said drum at a first ratio of 1:1 in response to rotation of said rotary shaft in one direction, said first motion-transmitting means including a rotatable sleeve, a first driving gear train having a driving ratio 1:1 and transmitting the rotation of said rotary shaft to said rotatable sleeve, and a uni-directional gear member transmitting the rotation of said rotatable sleeve to said rotary drum in response to rotation of said rotary shaft in said one direction whereby said rotary drum rotates in a predetermined direction at a first speed; and a second motion-transmitting means for transmitting rotary motion to said rotary drum at a different second ratio in response to rotation of said rotary shaft in an opposite direction, said second motion transmitting means including a gear mounted in said rotary drum, second driving gear train driven by said rotary shaft and having a different driving ratio, and a further uni-directional drive transmitting the rotation of said second driving gear train to said gear of said rotary drum and thereby to said rotary drum in response to rotation of said rotary shaft in said opposite direction, whereby said rotary drum rotates in the same predetermined direction but at a reduced speed as compared with said first speed. 
     
     
       2. A two-speed winch, particularly for nautical applications, comprising a base; a hollow rotary drum on said base; a direction-reversible rotary shaft on said base and extending into said drum; first motion-transmitting means for transmitting rotary motion to said drum at a first ratio of 1:1 in response to rotation of said shaft in one direction, said first motion-transmitting means including a first annular member rigidly mounted on said shaft and rotatable therewith, a first sleeve rotatably mounted on said shaft operatively connected to said first annular member and operatively engaged with said drum to rotate the latter in response to rotation of said shaft, and a first free-wheel device operative to connect said first sleeve with said drum to transmit rotary motion to said drum in response to rotation of said shaft in said one direction; second motion-transmitting means for transmitting rotary motion to said drum at a different second ratio in response to rotation of said shaft in an opposite direction; and a self-tailing pulley mounted on said drum for rotation therewith and operative for facilitating the winding action of the winch. 
     
     
       3. A winch as defined in claim 2, wherein said second motion-transmitting means transmit rotary motion to said drum at a ratio reduced relative to said first ratio. 
     
     
       4. A winch as defined in claim 3, wherein said base is stationary. 
     
     
       5. A winch as defined in claim 4, further comprising means for rotating said shaft in both of said directions alternately. 
     
     
       6. A winch as defined in claim 5, wherein said rotating means comprise a crank having a pin portion which is inserted axially in the winch and operatively connected to said shaft to thereby rotate said shaft in response to rotating said crank. 
     
     
       7. A winch as defined in claim 2, wherein said first motion-transmitting means further comprise a first gear train adapted to transmit rotary motion from said first annular member to said first sleeve at a ratio of 1:1. 
     
     
       8. A winch as defined in claim 7, wherein said second motion transmitting means comprise a second gear train adopted to transmit rotary motion from said first annular member to said drum in response to rotation of said shaft in said opposite direction. 
     
     
       9. A winch as defined in claim 8, wherein said second motion-transmitting means further comprise a second free-wheel device connecting said first annular member with said second gear train when said shaft rotates in said opposite direction. 
     
     
       10. A winch as defined in claim 7, wherein said first gear train comprises a first gear of a predetermined outer diameter and meshing with said first annular member, a second gear fixedly mounted on said first sleeve and operatively connected to said first gear, said second gear having an outer diameter substantially equal to that of the first gear, and a first pinion having an outer surface of a diameter equal to that of the shaft and engaging said first and second gears to thereby insure a 1:1 motion-transmitting ratio from said first annular member to said first sleeve which is operatively connected to said drum. 
     
     
       11. A winch as defined in claim 10, wherein said second gear train comprises a second pinion engaging said drum, said second pinion having an outer diameter different from that of the shaft to thereby transmit rotary motion to said drum at a ratio different from 1:1. 
     
     
       12. A winch as defined in claim 11, wherein said outer diameter of the shaft exceeds that of the second pinion to thereby transmit rotary motion to said drum at a ratio which is reduced relative to said 1:1 ratio.